The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1887-02-23

facts which may lead TO more serious accusa
lions. Although one Of the passengers is sal
to have lost large sum Of money intruste
to him, while attempting with bareface,
ehrontery to establ a a rival carrying
business in one of the express company's owl
coaches'-I call that good point" He in
terrupted himself to allow the unrestrainec
applause of his own party. 4Don't youn
"It's just h-ll, said Clinch, musingly.
3'Yet the affair,"' resumed the stranger
from bis manuscript, is locked up in great
and suspicious mystery. The presence OF
jackson N. Stanner, ESQ., chats me), 'specia
detective agent to the company, and his staff
in town, is guaranty that the mystery will
be thoroughly probed.' He'd to put that in
; to please the company" he again deprecat.
tngly explained. awe are indebted to this
gentleman for the faots.'r
THE pint you want to make in that article, N
said Clinch, rising, but still directing his face
and his conversation to the fire, 4ez far ez
ken see, ez that no three men kin back down
six unless they bs towards, or are willing to
he backed down"
That's the point what I start from,p re-
Joined stanner, @and work up. leave 1t to
you Of 1t amt So"
Il can't say ez agree with you,n said the
colonel dryly. He turned, and still without
lifting his eyes walked toward the door of
the room which Zenobia had entered The
key was on the inside, but Clinch gently
opened the door, removed the key, and clos.
Ing the door again locked II from his side.
Hale and Rswlins felt their hearts beat
quickly; the others followed Clinchs slow
movements and downcast mien with amused
curiosity. After locking the other outlet
from the room and putting the keys in his
pocket, Clinch returned to the fire. For the
first time he lifted his eyes; the man nearest
him shrank back in terror:
u am the man" he said slowly, taking de-
hberate breath between his sentences, "wbo
gave up those greenbacks to the robbers.
am one Of the three passengers you have
lampooned in that paper, and these gentle
men beside me are the other two" He stop.
ped and looked around him. "You don't be-
heve that three men can back down ski
Well, I'll show you how 1t can be done.
More than that, I'll show you how one man
can do It; for, by the living God, IL you
don't hand over that paper III kill you where
you sitl I'll give you until count ten; IL
one Of you moves be and you are dead men,
but you frstr
Before he had finished speaking Hale and
Rawlins had both risen, as If in concert, with
their weapons drawn. Hale could not tell
how or why he had done so, but he was
equally conscious, without knowing why, of
fixing his eye on one Of the other party, and
that he should, in the event Of an affray, try
to kill him He did not attempt to reason;
be only knew that he should do his best to
kill that man and perhaps others.
Zone, said Clinch, lifting his derringer,
stwo-threen-
"Look here, colonel-I swear didn't know
. was you. Come-d-n I'll I say-see
here, stammered Stanner, with white cheeks,
,ot daring to glance for aid to his stupefied
,arty.
Four-fve-sixr-
"Waiti HereI" He produced the paper
md threw IL on the floor.
"Pick 1t up and hand it to me. Seven
ightn-
stanner hastily scrambled to his feet, picked
lp the paper, and handed 1t to tho colonel
I was only joking, colonel, !" he said, with a
orcsd laugh.
"pm glad TO hear IT, But as this Joke is in
HACK and white, you wouldn't mind saying
o In the sane fashion Take that peu and
nk and write a. l dictate. 4 certify that